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settled-reach/docs/briefings/paula.md
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jpmschweitzerandClaude Opus 4.6 93abd9b9d0 docs(workshops): complete Knowledge Graph & Information Boundaries workshop
Two-round workshop producing D-041 (Knowledge Graph Data Model):
- Round 1: independent analyses from Dudley, Gestalt, SI, Tyre, Paula
- Round 2: synthesis resolving debates + Gestalt mechanics validation

Key decisions:
- 4-level confidence hierarchy (Suspects < KnowsOf < KnowsDetails < Direct)
- BTreeMap for deterministic iteration (D-010 principle 4)
- Per-entity Component model, not centralized Resource
- StableEntityId + EntityRegistry for save/load stability (partial Q-019)
- Sprint 2 stub: structs + direct observation + basic decay (~6.5 dev-days)

Resolved Q-016 (knowledge hierarchy), raised Q-024/Q-025/Q-026.
Created tickets #361-#368 under epic #351, reconciled #49 children.
Updated sprint 2 briefings, agent briefings, and decision files.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-02-11 23:24:37 +01:00

4.8 KiB

Paula - Project Briefing

Last updated: 2026-02-11

Current Project State

The Settled Reach: top-down immersive sim, single-character perspective, asymmetric information core mechanic, Rimworld-style storyteller. 41 confirmed decisions, 17 discussion rounds + 2 workshops complete. Engine selected (D-020). Vertical slice defined (D-027). v0.1 Content Gap Analysis Workshop complete — NPC web reconciled, THE FRIEND designed, dependency chain established. Knowledge Graph & Information Boundaries Workshop complete (D-041) — knowledge vocabulary unblocked for content authoring (#309).

Status

ACTIVE. Critical path owner. The Dual Lens Authoring Guide (#261) is the single biggest blocker in the project — everything downstream depends on it.

Decisions Relevant to Your Role

  • D-005: Asymmetric information as core mechanic driving faction dynamics
  • D-016: Internal monologue — unreliable narrator reflecting character perspective
  • D-021: Official title "The Settled Reach"
  • D-024: NPC triangle model — 10 axes + combat component
  • D-025: Cross-template triangles via reference links
  • D-028: Four relational dialogue layers
  • D-029: 30/50/20 population split

Workshop Decisions (Content Gap Analysis)

  • D-032: Separate monologue pools per character — hard partition, no shared lines
  • D-034: THE FRIEND NPC pattern — your designs are canonical:
    • Smuggler's FRIEND: Kael Davan — dock worker, ring member. Contradiction: unauthorized contact to exit the ring (protecting Hael). Arc: comfort → first crack → observation → confrontation → new equilibrium.
    • Detective's FRIEND: Sera Venn — Commission field tech, bar regular. Contradiction: concealing evidence (protecting friend Hael). Arc: trust → background data → pattern recognition → the question → contaminated trust.
    • Reusable pattern: 3+ phases, observable contradiction, sympathetic motivation, no clean resolution, dual-lens resonance, triangle integration.
  • D-033: Entity color = relationship to player — green/teal/amber/red maps to your access tier model visually
  • D-035: Converged tag taxonomy — your 4 layers map to tags: access (L1), situation (L2), trust (L3), topic+mood (L4)
  • D-036: Sova Transit District — 15 NPCs with Krenn System names (your Round 2 web is canonical)
  • D-037: Contraband = unlicensed lattice components — smuggling access, not weapons (moral ambiguity confirmed)
  • D-039: All 6 wow moments in scope — THE FRIEND contradiction is wow moment #3
  • D-041: Knowledge Graph Data Model — 4-level confidence hierarchy resolves Q-016. Knowledge vocabulary for content authoring (#309) defined at synthesis Appendix A. Prerequisite format: knowledge: [{subject, flag, level}] where level = suspects/knows_of/knows_details. FactId format: category.topic. Supports THE FRIEND contradiction detection (Contradicted state, monologue trigger, relationship shift to PersonOfInterest).

Your Relationship Web (Canonical — Round 2)

15 NPCs, 5 triangles:

  • Triangle 1 (Hub Power): Voss - Kael - Nils
  • Triangle 2 (Worried Knowledge): Maret - Drin - Voss
  • Triangle 3 (Bar Tensions): Lera - Torek - Ren
  • Triangle 4 (Worried Partner): Hael - Kael - Sera (connects both FRIENDs)
  • Triangle 5 (Informant Question): Naia - Kosse - Drin (cross-template)

Distribution: 3 flat (Pael, Ren, Tev), 7 mundane triangle, 4-5 entangled.

Open Questions Assigned to You

  • Q-011: Character selection roster for prototype (co-lead with Miri)
  • Q-016: Knowledge hierarchy for monologue prerequisites — RESOLVED (D-041)
  • Q-017: Triangle pressure threshold (co-lead with Gestalt)
  • Q-026: Contradiction detection algorithm (co-lead with Gestalt, Dudley)

Current Priorities

Critical path: Dual Lens Guide → Voice Patterns → THE FRIEND profiles → NPC profiles → Review

  1. Dual Lens Authoring Guide (#261) — full draft (blocks everything downstream)
    • Refined outline from workshop: 6 parts including THE FRIEND section
    • Must include: emotional divergence moments, access tier shift paths, authoring checklist with display context tags
    • Knowledge prerequisite format now available: see D-041 Appendix A for v0.1 vocabulary and prerequisite syntax
  2. THE FRIEND: Kael Davan — full Tier 1 profile (needs DLG)
  3. THE FRIEND: Sera Venn — full Tier 1 profile (needs DLG)
  4. Character voice speech patterns (co-deliver with Mellanie)
  5. NPC Profiles: Tier 1 (4 entangled), Tier 2 (7 mundane), Tier 3 (3 flat)
  6. Access tier shift design document (co-deliver with Gestalt)
  7. Mirror moment review pass (after Mellanie's monologue pools exist)

Key Documents

  • decisions/content.md — D-023 through D-037
  • docs/workshops/content-gap-analysis_v0_1/ — workshop outputs and SUMMARY.md
  • docs/briefings/mellanie.md — content production status